WEST BOYLSTON – The town is making use of the federal funds it is getting as part of the America Rescue Plan Act, in the process saving funds it would have spent and allowing it to be put to other uses, including planned additions to stabilization and capital accounts.

Selectmen voted at their April 27 meeting to allocate some of the funds for: hoses and nozzles for the Fire Department, $25,000; a tractor for the DPW, $20,000; an F550 with one-ton stainless dump body for the DPW, $130,000; a Toro Groundmaster mower for the DPW, $40,600; a fire alarm system for the School Department, $101,000; and handicapped bathroom improvements for the School Department $21,000.

The school bathroom project is a single bathroom at Major Edwards Elementary School, Finance Committee Chairman Chris Berglund said. That bathroom is currently not handicapped accessible and work will be more extensive than originally anticipated, he said.

With planned spending, over $600,000 in ARPA funds are still available for future use, Town Administrator Nancy Lucier said.

Selectmen voted to close the warrant for the May 16 town meeting, reviewing the articles and planning to mail out information to voters.